I’m not sure it will be enough to keep it afloat.”
His smile grows despite the negativity I’m spewing. After telling Julia not to speak negativity into existence earlier, I sure am acting like a hypocrite. “But you’re still thinking about it, that’s all that matters.”
“I am. It was the whole reason I was out on Alpine…”
His eyes grow stormy at the mention of that night. His gaze sweeps over the slight scars. I’ve hidden them well with makeup, but it’s my father, and he knows they’re there.
“You’re brave, Selene. The strongest person I know. Don’t ever let what happened that night bring you down.”
“I won’t. It’s been hard. I almost expect him to hop out when I least expect it, but I have to have faith, faith that when he does turn up, he’ll be put away, and I won’t have to worry about him.”
The soft strains of music play as I sweep across the floor with my dad. We laugh with each other, and it feels good. I’ve missed this. Being this close to him. It makes me want to hold on to him a little tighter, to try to get him to stay here with me just a little while longer. I want him to see Luna go to first grade, then be there when she graduates from high school and so many other pivotal moments in her life—in our lives.
He suddenly grows serious, both of us now people watching while we dance.
“I’ve been thinking,” he starts, and I quirk a brow, waiting for him to elaborate. “I want you to have the house.”
My stomach dips painfully, and I shake my head. “No, we’re not going to talk about this. Not yet.”
He sighs. “We need to. It’s inevitable. And I mean it. I want you to have it. I know you have Endymion’s place now, but…I want you to choose to do with the house as you please.”
My chin quivers with emotion. “But what about Mom?”
He smiles sadly. “We’ve spoken about this already. She agrees with me. She thinks you should have the place. I think it holds too many memories, good and bad, for her to want to hang on to.”
My throat suddenly feels dry and my tongue swollen, not sure what to say. The thought of keeping the house that I grew up in, a house filled with memories, some not always good, but a house that will always hold the memory of my father, is frightening. I’m not sure how that makes me feel, having to carry the weight of that decision on my shoulders. I don’t know if I’d ever be able to part with it.
“I love you, Dad,” I whisper, pulling him into a hug in the middle of the dance floor. His arms wrap around me, and he hugs me back, his grip just as tight as mine, almost like he hears the same ominous clock ticking that I do.
A sudden round of applause erupts in the barn, signaling the end of the father-daughter dance. “C’mon, let’s get some food. I’m starving.”
He’s lying. The man’s appetite has been nonexistent lately, but I go along with it anyway, letting him have this.
My steps falter as I’m walking back toward our families’ tables when I glance at the barn entrance and spot Holly and Reina walking through, looking all dolled up.
I know it isn’t her fault what happened with Thomas, but my mind immediately drifts to thoughts of him and that night, and a cold shiver travels through my body. My gaze clashes with Holly’s, and I don’t know what I was expecting to see there in her eyes, but it certainly wasn’t anger.
What the hell is she angry with me for?
Shaking it off, I head back to the table with everyone else, and Endymion immediately pulls me into his side, Luna resting in his arms. It seems all that dancing has tired her out.
“You hungry?” he asks, looking down at me. I press a kiss to his lips.
“Yeah, I was already going to head there. I’ll grab a plate for you and Luna.”
Her little head jerks up at the mention of her name. “Aww. I want to pick my food.”
I roll my eyes at her whine, stifling my smile. Hell, she was just on the verge of falling asleep only a few seconds ago. “All right then, let’s go pick some food, Luna Bella.”
Taking her hand in mine, we walk across the barn and get in line behind the others that are already